Mr. Digvijay Bendrikar Shinde will present his pre-synopsis as per the details:
 

Date: Friday, 19th June 2026
 

Time: 1000 – 1200 hrs.
 

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No.2

Title: Interdepartmental Convergence for Tackling Child Malnutrition: Case of ICDS and Urban Development Department in Maharashtra
 

Guide: Prof. Amit Arora
 

Co-Guides: Prof. Arnab Jana and Prof. Satish Agnihotri
 

RPC Members: Prof. Sarthak Gaurav, Prof. Parmeshwar Udmale and Prof. Shouvik Banerjee
 

Abstract:

Urban India is witnessing a growing concentration of child undernutrition, yet the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme continues to operate through institutional arrangements that were largely designed for rural contexts. This research examines how adequately Urban ICDS in Maharashtra addresses child undernutrition and what structural reforms and interdepartmental convergence arrangements are required to make the programme effective in an urbanising state.

The study adopts a mixed-methods approach combining policy analysis, secondary data analysis, geospatial methods, field surveys and action research. Using an Input–Process–Output–Outcome (IPOO) framework, the research analyses urban child undernutrition, assesses the adequacy of ICDS coverage, identifies structural misalignments within the programme, and examines efforts undertaken by the Government of Maharashtra to restructure Urban ICDS.

The central argument of the thesis is that the limitations of Urban ICDS arise not only from resource constraints but from deeper geographical, administrative and financial misalignments between the programme and the urban governance system. The study argues that spatial-administrative coherence is a necessary precondition for effective interdepartmental convergence and for improving child nutrition outcomes in urban areas.

Keywords: Urban ICDS, Child Undernutrition, Interdepartmental Convergence, Urban Governance, Anganwadi Centres, ICDS Coverage, Spatial Planning, GIS Analysis, Urban Slums, Maharashtra.